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Link between HIV, Tulsa dental office 'inconclusive'

TULSA (AP) — The results of genetic tests on HIV specimens from former patients of an Oklahoma oral surgeon accused of maintaining filthy office conditions are inconclusive for establishing a potential connection to his practice, state health officials said Thursday.

Specimens from three of four patients of Dr. W. Scott Harrington’s who tested positive for HIV were submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for genetic analysis to determine whether the source of infections was related to the clinic.

“We can’t rule them in and we can’t rule them out,” Leslea Bennett-Webb, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma State Department of Health, said Thursday. “What we wanted to achieve throughout this process was to put in place the science and the best-practice method of a public health response to assure we identified those who might have been exposed the practice and provide direction on how they need to take care of themselves.

“We feel like we’ve done all we can do to uncover the mystery surrounding all of this,” she said.

State health inspectors shut down Harrington’s clinic March 28 after finding unsanitary conditions. A 17-count complaint filed by the state said officials found rusty instruments, potentially contaminated drug vials and improper use of a machine designed to sterilize tools.

Health officials urged tests for 7,000 of Harrington’s patients to determine whether they had contracted an infectious disease. Last month, investigators said Harrington was responsible for the nation’s first transmission of hepatitis C between patients in a dental office.

The investigation is continuing, and Harrington is cooperating with the probe. An attorney for Harrington did not return a message seeking comment on the inconclusive results Thursday.

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